Remote control test apparatus

Abstract

A detector assembly for a remotely controlled test system for testing the ready status of a fluorescent type emergency lighting fixture providing a 30 second or a 90 minute test of the battery operated fluorescent lamp upon command. The transmitted control signal is an infrared beam containing a selected pulse-time code which the receiving circuit can reliably receive, recognize and process in an environment of high infrared noise typically produced by fluorescent lighting. Upon recognition and verification of the selected pulse-time code, the microcontroller disenables the charging circuit to the battery for supplying power to the fluorescent lamp in the emergency mode to cause the emergency circuit to sense an AC power failure whereby the lamp illuminates in the emergency mode for the selected test period. In preferred embodiments the detector for the infrared beam, the housing in which it is mounted in the fluorescent fixture, the cable connecting the detector to the microcontroller are all surrounded with an electrically conductive shielding which is grounded to the microcontroller.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An infrared wavelength remote control test system for activation of microcontroller circuit means comprising: 
       a) an infrared detector for providing an electrical signal output in response to an infrared remote controller command signal;  
       b) a detector housing including a substantially cylindrical shell having a central bore therethrough including a detector mounting section disposed within said central bore at one end of said shell;  
       c) said cylindrical shell having a cable receiving section disposed within said central bore at the other end of said shell;  
       d) said detector being fixedly mounted in the central bore of said detector mounting section, disposed in recessed relation to the open end of said central bore in said shell;  
       e) a cable for conveying the electrical signal output of said detector to the microcontroller circuit means, said cable being received within the central bore of the cable receiving section of said detector housing, said cable being electrically connected at one end thereof to the electrical output of said detector and electrically connected at the other end thereof to the microcontroller circuit means.  
     
     
       2. The remote test system according to  claim 1  wherein said cable is a shielded cable and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in said microcontroller circuit means. 
     
     
       3. The remote test system according to  claim 1  wherein said central bore of said detector mounting section is lined with an electrically conductive shielding and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in said microcontroller circuit means. 
     
     
       4. The remote test system according to  claim 3  wherein said shielding of said detector mounting section is electrically connected to the shielding of said cable and to the ground potential terminal of said microcontroller circuit means. 
     
     
       5. The remote test system according to  claim 4  wherein said infrared detector is adapted with a conductive case and said case is electrically connected to said shielding of said housing and said cable shielding. 
     
     
       6. The remote test system according to  claim 1  wherein the detection section of said detector housing is disposed at one end of said housing and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cable section of said housing. 
     
     
       7. The remote test system according to  claim 6  wherein the central bore of said detector mounting section is lined with an electrically conductive shielding and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in the microcontroller circuit means. 
     
     
       8. The remote test system according to  claim 7  wherein said detector is adapted with a conductive case and the case is electrically connected to the shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       9. The remote test system according to  claim 8  wherein said cable connecting said detector to the microcontroller circuit has a ground conductor and said ground conductor is electrically connected to said detector housing and the shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       10. The remote test system according to  claim 9  wherein said cable in said cable receiving section is secured into a fixed relationship with said detector housing. 
     
     
       11. The remote test system according to  claim 10  wherein said cable is secured by a potting compound. 
     
     
       12. The remote test system according to  claim 1  wherein said cable has connected thereto a connector for detachable connection the remote test system. 
     
     
       13. The remote test system according to  claim 12  wherein said connector has a cable receiving section having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the cable so as to receive said cable in a tight fit. 
     
     
       14. The remote test system according to  claim 13  wherein said connection of said cable to said connector is reinforced with a elastomeric stress relieving sleeve disposed over said cable and cable receiving sleeve. 
     
     
       15. The remote test system according to  claim 13  wherein the detector mounting section of said detector housing is disposed at one end of said housing and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cable section of said housing. 
     
     
       16. The remote test system according to  claim 15  wherein the central bore of said detector mounting section is lined with an electrically conductive shielding and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in the microcontroller circuit means. 
     
     
       17. The remote test system according to  claim 16  wherein said detector is adapted with a conductive case and the case is electrically connected to the shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       18. The remote test system according to  claim 17  wherein said cable connecting said detector to the microcontroller circuit has a ground conductor and said ground conductor is electrically connected to said conductive case and the shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       19. The remote test system according to  claim 18  wherein said cable in said cable receiving section is secured into a fixed relationship with said detector housing. 
     
     
       20. The remote test system according to  claim 19  wherein said cable is secured by a potting compound. 
     
     
       21. The remote test system according to  claim 20  wherein said cable is electrically shielded and said shielding is electrically connected to said detector housing and said shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       22. A detector for an infrared wavelength remote control signaling system comprising: 
       a) an infrared wavelength detector having a receiving eye for providing an electrical signal output in response to a received infrared command signal;  
       b) a detector housing including a substantially cylindrical shell having a central bore therethrough terminating at a first end and a second end including a detector mounting section disposed within said central bore generally disposed at the first end of said shell;  
       c) said cylindrical shell having a cable receiving section disposed within said central bore generally at the second end of said shell;  
       d) said detector being fixedly mounted in the central bore of said detector mounting section, disposed in recessed relation to the open end of said central bore in said shell whereby a conical receiving angle α is defined;  
       e) a cable for conveying the electrical signal output of said detector to electrical circuit means for processing the received signal, said cable being received within the central bore of the cable receiving section of said detector housing, said cable being electrically connected at one end thereof to the electrical output of said detector and electrically connected at the other end thereof to the electrical circuit means.  
     
     
       23. The detector according to  claim 22  wherein said cable has connected thereto a connector for detachable connection the remote control signaling system. 
     
     
       24. The detector according to  claim 23  wherein said connector has a cable receiving section having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the cable so as to receive said cable in a tight fit. 
     
     
       25. The detector according to  claim 24  wherein said connection of said cable to said connector is reinforced with an elastomeric stress relieving sleeve disposed over said cable and cable receiving sleeve. 
     
     
       26. The detector according to  claim 25  wherein the detector mounting section of said detector housing is disposed at one end of said housing and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cable section of said housing. 
     
     
       27. The detector according to  claim 26  wherein the central bore of said detector mounting section is lined with an electrically conductive shielding and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in the remote control signaling system. 
     
     
       28. The detector according to  claim 27  wherein said detector is adapted with a conductive case and the case is electrically connected to the shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       29. The detector according to  claim 28  wherein said cable connecting said detector to the remote control signaling system has a ground conductor and said ground conductor is electrically connected to said conductive case and the shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       30. The detector according to  claim 29  wherein said cable in said cable receiving section is secured in a fixed relationship with said detector housing. 
     
     
       31. The detector according to  claim 30  wherein said cable is secured by a potting compound. 
     
     
       32. The detector according to  claim 31  wherein said cable is electrically shielded and said shielding is electrically connected to said conductive case and said shielding in said detector mounting section. 
     
     
       33. The detector according to  claim 22  wherein said cable is a shielded cable and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in said remote control signaling system. 
     
     
       34. The detector according to  claim 33  wherein said central bore of said detector mounting section is lined with an electrically conductive shielding and said shielding is electrically connected to a ground potential terminal in said remote control signaling system. 
     
     
       35. The detector according to  claim 34  wherein said shielding of said detector mounting section is electrically connected to the shielding of said cable and to the ground potential terminal of said remote control signaling system. 
     
     
       36. The detector according to  claim 35  wherein said infrared detector is adapted with a conductive case and said case is electrically connected to said shielding of said housing and said cable shielding.